Permutation-lock



(Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. M. PFLAUM.

PBRMUTATION LOOK. No. 409,496. Patented Aug.` 20, 1889.

N. PETERS. Phulo-Lilhogrnpher. Washington. D. C.

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No. 409,496. Patented Aug.`2-0, 1889.

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(Model.) 3 sheets-sheen s. J. M. PFLAUM.

PBRMUTATION LOCK.

No. 409,496. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

N. PETERS. PhoKoLhhugrnphen Washington. D. C.`

fUNITED STATES .aTENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. PFLAUM, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PERIVIUTATlON-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 409,496, dated August 20, 1889.

Application filed August 22, 1888. Serial No. 283,488. (Model.)

To @ZZ whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. PFLAUM, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the SHUI@- My invention relates to improvements in permutation-locks5 and it consists in certain features of construction, and in combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are corresponding elevations, respectively, inside and outside the sate-door, adjacent the lock. Fig. 3 is an inside elevation with plate L removed, exposing plate M. In Fig. at plate M is removed. lower tumbler (No. 1) and the mechanism for actuating the same are removed. In Fig. all the commutation mechanism is removed, exposing the bolts. Figs. 7 and 8 are plans showing reverse sides of disk C. Figs. 9 and 13 are plans, respectively, of gears F and F. Fig. 10 is a plan of dog G. Fig. 11 is a plan partly in section. Fig.12 is an end elevation in section on line :i: rr, Fig. 2. Fig. 1i is a de tail of plug K.

' A represents the safe-door, a the knob for operating the permutation mechanism, and B the lever for withdrawing the bolts. Knob a and dial-plate a are rigidly connected or integral with spindle a2, the latter ext-ending through the safe-door and lock and having a square section a3 for engaging a corresponding socket in hub C of disk C, by reason of whiehthis spindle and disk always turn together. The bolts are shown more clearlyin Fig. G, and in the main are of ordinary construction. The cent-ral bolt I) is provided with cross-bar (l, for engaging toes dof bolts D', by reason of which bolts D are drawn back by the rearward movement of bolt D. Lever I3 is attached to or integral with spin dle I3', the latter being' provided with cam B2, for engaging cross-bar (l in drawing back the bolts, the latter being shot by the action of In Fig. 5 theV springs d2. Each bolt is provided with a nger (Z3, that must enter a corresponding slot e in the adjacent tumbler E in drawing back the bolt.

The permutation mechanism is as follows: The disk C, in addition to hub C for engaging spindle a2, has on the opposite side of the disk a hub C2, the bore ot this latter hub being considerably larger than the dimensions of the spindle at this part, leaving room between the spindle and inner periphery of hub C2 for inserting the liub F. of one of the tn1nblers E. (See Fig. 12.) Disk C has on either side thereof an annular iiange C3. Two slots c c are made through the web or body of the disk, and located about as shown in Figs. 7 and 8; also, a channel c is made through each flange C3, near the respective slots c. Mounted on opposite sides of disk C are two toothed wheels or gears F and F,these gears being journaled loosely on the respective hubs ot the disk. The rims of these gears overlap the periphery of the respective flanges C3, (see Figs. 11 and 12,) and these rims, on the inner periphery thereof, have ratchet-notches, respectively, j' and f for engaging corresponding points g of dogs G. These dogs fit easily, respectively, between disk C and gears F and F, the points g of the dogs extending out through the respective channels c. Each dog has a lug g', that operates in a slot c of the disk and serves as v a steady-pin for the dog.

A spring G is arranged, as shown in Fig. 5, at the back of each dog to press' the point of the dog forward. rlhe large central opening g2 of the dog admitsthe latter being placed astride the hub of the disk. The two dogs are alike, but are in reverse position. IWhen, therefore, the disk is turned in the one direction, one of the dogs will engage notch f and turn gear F with the disk. XVhen the disk is turned in the other direction, the other dog will engage notch f and turn gear F with the disk, and in either case the idle dog will snub back in passing its notch of the gear. In other words, gears F and F are turned only one at a time and in reverse direction by reverse movement of disk C. Gear F engages gear II and gear F engages gear Il'.

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Gears H and H are respectively provided With trunnions H2 and hollow hubs h and studs 7L. Trunnions H2 are journaled in corresponding seats formed by the projecting iianges n of the back or bed plate N of the lock. Hubs 7L receive eacha hub E of a tumbler, and studs 7L extend loosely through central holes of the tumblers and are provided each with a thu mbnut O for tightening the respective tumblers on the respective hubs, whereby each tum-r bler and its supporting-hub turns together, except when such thumb-nut is loosened. The three tumblers are supposed to be alike, and as it is desirable to have some means of designating the different tumblers in setting the combination, and as the tumblers are concealed by plate L, the three thumb-nuts O are numbered, respectively, l, 2, and 3, to represent the different tumblers to which they are connected. Fach tumbler has a hole e', that registers with a hole l', made in plate Il, When slot e of such tumbler is in position to receive the opposing finger cl3 of the bolts. Retaining-pawls I are respectively mounted on pins i and respectively engage gears F, F, H, and H', these pawls being held to such enga gement by springs t. These paWls `are snubbed back when the different gears are actuated by dogs G, the function of these paWls being to retain the different gears as against reverse movement that would likely accrue from friction of parts. lNith the ar rangement of parts thus shown it is evident that When knob a is turned in the one direction gears F and H and tumbler E,No. I, Will be turned, and that when knob a is reversed gears F H and tumbler No.1 will remain stationary and gears F H and tumblerE, No. 3, Will be actuated, and that tumbler E, No. 2, being' connected With disk C, and the latter being mounted on the knob-spindle a2, tumbler No. 2 Will turn in unison With knob a When this knob is moved in either direction. Vhen the safe-door is opened, thumb-nuts O and holes Z are accessible. l

In setting the tumblers to the desired combination no particular order need be followed; but for convenience in describing the opera* tion I Will follow the order in which the tuinblers are numbered, and the different tumblers will be designated simply by such respective numbers 12, and 3. First, knob a is turned in the direction to actuate No. l, andfwhen the hole thereof c and hole Z register plug K is inserted in these holes to hold this tumbler stationary, after which the thumb-nutis loosened and knob a is turned until the desired number-Which We will suppose to be 1of the dial comes opposite point P on the door, and While the parts are in this position the thumb-nut is again tightened and plug K removed. It will be remembered that when hole e of a tumbler registers with the corresponding hole l notch e of this tumbler Will be in pssition for withdrawing the opposing bolt. In the present instance, therefore, No.

thumb-nut with the dial at No. 6l, in unlocking the safe the dial must be returned to N o. Gl to bring tumbler No. 1 in position to admit the Withdrawal of the opposing bolt. Next, and as tumbler No. 2 is mounted on the spindle of the knob a, the lattermay be turned in either direction to bring tumbler No. 2 in position with its hole e registering with corresponding hole l', after vvhich plug K is inserted. The thumb-nut is then loosened and the dial is set, We will suppose, at No. 13, after which the thumb-nut is tightened and the plug removed. No. 3 is set in the same manner as No. l, except that knob a is turned in the opposite direction, and We will suppose that No. 3 is set at No. 8S of the dial. After the diiferent tumblers have been set and the safe locked the knob is supposed tohave been turned, first in one direction and then in the other direction to disarrange the combination.

In unlocking the safe the manipulation of knob a may be as follows: First, the knob is turned in the direction to move tumbler No` I, and the knob should be turned once 4round to be sure that the dog thereof has engaged notch f, after which the movement of the knob is continued to bring the tumbler in position for receiving the bolt, which in the present case is supposed to be at No. 6l of the dial. Next, the knob is reversed and given a revolution, and then continued until the dial is set at SS. The knob is then again reversed and the dial set at No.13, after which the bolts may be drawn back. In closing the safe, the bolts being spring-actuated, the safe is of course self-locking, and after the safe is closed it only remains to turn the knob, as aforesaid, to disarrange the combination, in which disarranged condition the safe is left.

Tumblers Nos. l and 3 may be set at any desired number of the dial, but tumbler No. 2 is subject to some limitations, as follows: The dials are usually numbered to 100, the latter number being coincident With O, and

' the points of the dogs are usually set opposite the Zero-point of the dial, and of course never change their position relative to the Zero-point, butl move with the dial. We will suppose, also, that in turning tumbler No. 1 the dial is turned past point P in the direction that the figures on the dial read, l, 2, 3, dac., in which case in turning tumbler No. 3 the figures on the dial would pass point P in the reverse order, 99, 98, 97, &c. Tumbler No. l having been turned to dial number, for instance, 6l, is left in this position, and tumbler No. 8 is turned in the opposite direction twelve numbers from zero. to reach No. SS. Now it is evident that in such case the dial cannot be turned from O in the one direction past 6l, or in the other direction from 0 past SS, Without moving one or the other of the two outside tumblers. In this case, therefore, the middle tumbler No. 2 is limited in its range IOO IIO

accordingly, and instead of having been set at No. 13 it could, if so preferred, have been set at any number of the dial from 0 to 61 in the one direction, or from O to S8 in the other direction, but its range could not have exceeded these limits. Tumbler No. 2 may therefore be set at any desired number between the dial-numbers of tumblers Nos. 1 and 3, provided the sum of these numbers, the one counted forward from 0 andthe other counted backward from 0, does not exceed the numbers (100) on the dial. If in setting tumblers Nos. l and 8 the sum of the eX- treme movements of the dial exceed a revolution thereof, in such case the notches j' and f pass each other, and as the dogs can only pass from one notch to the other without moving one of the outside tumblers the range of dial-numbers to which tumbler No. 2 can be set in such case is limited between notches f and f on the side of the dial opposite point l). This will perhaps be better understood by citing some example. For instance, tumbler No. l having been set, as aforesaid, at No. 6l of the dial, suppose tumbler No. 3 had been set at 50 of the dial, in which case, in turning the dial backward from 0 to reach No. 50, notch f will have been moved past notch f, and the dogs will be left with a range of only eleven numbers, from 50 to G1, without moving one of the outside tumblers, and consequently this range of eleven numbers, between 50 and G1, is all that can be chosen from in setting the middle tumbler No. 2. Again, if tumbler No. 1 were set at number l5 of the dial and tumbler No. 3 were set at number 7, a range of only eight numbers, from 7 to 15, would be left from which to choose in setting tumbler No. 2; or-if tumbler No. 1 were set at 91 and tumbler No. 3 were set at 6, a range of eighty-ve numbers would be left from which to choose in setting tumbler No. 2. From these examples given it is believed that there will be no difficulty in determining' what numbers may be chosen for setting tumbler No. 2 under any circumstances. The limits thus had in setting tumbler No. 2 do not detract from the merits of the lock, as there remains almost an endless number of combinations that can be used. r1`hese combinations are not often changed. Some people never change them. Others only change the combination at long intervals-say once in a year or two-but whenever such change in the combination is made it requires but little trouble and but a few minutes time.

An alarm-bell J is connected with the lock and operated as follows to sound an alarm every time the bolts are drawn: Lever J', to which the bell-hammer J2 is connected by means of spring 3, is pivoted at j. The free end of the lever is provided with a V-shaped laterally-projecting point j', that engages a corresponding notch Z) on the end of arm b', this arm being rigidly secured to spindle B.

A spring ,7'2 holds point j to its engagement with the notch, and in whichever direction spindle B is turned in withdrawing the bolts of the lock leverJ is actuated and the alarmbell is sounded.

What l claim is- 1. The combination, with outside handknobs, dial, and internal disk mounted on a spindle in common, of `spring-actuated dogs connected with such disk, toothedl wheels mounted loosely on either side of the disk, the dogs having beveled ends arranged in reverse order, and the toothed wheels having corresponding notches for engaging the respective dogs with reverse movements of the disk, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with internal disk, mechanism, substantially as indicated, for actuating the same, said disk having annular ilanges on either side thereof, such flanges having respectively radial openings, of toothed wheels jourigaled on the respective hubs of such disk, the rim of the respective Atoothed wheels overlapping the respective flanges of the disk, spring-actuated dogs located between ihe disk and the respective toothed wheels, beveled points of the dog, and corresponding notches of the toothed wheels for mutual engagement, whereby the respective toothed wheels are rotated with the respective reverse movements of the disk, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with hand-knob, dial, spindle, and disk, the latter having a hollow hub, substantially as indicated, of a tumbler mounted on the said spindle, the hub of the tumbler entering the hollow hub of the disk, a nut mounted on such spindle for tightening the engaging-hub to cause the tumbler to revolve with the disk, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with gears F F and mechanism, substantially as indicated, for operating these gears in opposite directions, of gears H H', the latter being connected with tumblers arranged substantiallyas described, and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, with hand-knob, dial, and spindle, a central tumbler mountedl on the said spindle and adjustably secured thereto, of tumblers arranged on either side of the central tumbler, mechanism, substantially as indicated, for connecting the side tumblers with the central spindle, whereby the side tumblers are actuated in opposite directions by reverse movement of the central spindle, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with three tumblers and mechanism for actuating the different tumblers, substantially as indicated, of slot and hole in each tumbler, corresponding holes in the face-plate of the lock, arranged substantially as indicated, whereby the opposin holes of plate and tumbler register when the slot of such tumbler is in position to receive the opposing bolt, substantially as set forth.

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7. The Combination, with lover and spin- In testimony whereof I sign this specificadlo for withdrawing the bolts, a lateral arm tion, in the presence of two witnesses, this ro @nues/teg witlli snclli Y spitxlidl, said zii-I havi- LLh day of January, 1888. inga -s ape( Hotel at 1o reo en( t oreo', Y T of signal-bell and spring-actuated bell-lever JOUR M PFLAUM for the sanie,saidbel11evo1 havin g a V-shapod fitnessosz projection for engaging such notch of the CHAS. H. DORER, spindle-level', Substantially as set 'forivh ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

